As many as 915 policemen under seven SSPs and nine DSPs would be deployed at routs, cricket ground, and hotels to provide security to the visiting West Indian Women Cricket team that will play three T20 matches against green shirts.
The three T20s will be played on January 31, February 1 and 3, at the Southend Club in DHA. Around 55 mobiles, 42 motor cycles and four APCs would also be deployed at the said locations during the event.
On Wednesday, the city police ensured foolproof security arrangements with deployment of some 500 personnel right from the Karachi Airport till the hotel where team is staying. The traffic on busiest Shahra-e-Faisal halted to ensure a safe way for the visiting squad that travelled through on bullet-proof buses.
The city police spokesman said as many as 169 personnel including an SP and two DSPs have been deployed at the surroundings of the hotel where the visiting team staying. Some eight mobiles and four motorcycle squad were patrolling around the
hotel to guard the gust women team. The both sides are facing each other in Southned Club on Thursday. Some 250 policemen besides the paramilitary rangers and other security officials would also be deployed around the venue. Twelve police mobiles and 16 motorcycles would be patrolling around the cricket ground to maintain law and order during the match.
The citizens welcomed West Indies women cricket team after 15 long years. They hoped that this visit will pave ways for the revival of international cricket in the country. It is relevant to mention here that in March 2009, a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in Lahore killed six policeman and two civilians and injured six members of the touring group.
Since that, the international players expressed reluctance to visit Pakistan despite PCB made several attempts for the revival of international cricket in the country. The PCB lobbying and improving law and order situation has helped built the confidence of international cricketers and the visit of West Indian Women Cricket Team is the living example.